Schools' Use of Assessments for Kindergarten Entrance and Placement: 1998-99

Abstract

Many schools across the nation administer entrance and placement tests to young children as they enter or are about to enter kindergarten, and schools use this information for several different purposes. They use this information from tests, along with the child’s age, to decide whether a child is ready to begin kindergarten. The information from tests may also be used to support a decision on whether to admit a child who is old enough, or who is too young, according to the age cut-off set by the state, school district, or school. Test information is also used to help structure instruction to meet the needs of individual children or groups of children and to identify children who may need additional evaluation and testing.